Can you tell I am bored? Here is a little review on the big Rimowa. To my defense: This was purchased for me as a gift in Germany (I shall be eternally grateful), where it is quite a bit less expensive.

Here is a link to a good picture of the model I got:
http://www.luggagetogo.com/ritoal32trmu.html

There is another, older version that has only one TSA lock in the center latch. The new version has no lock in the center latch and one lock each (3 digit combo) in the two outer latches. The new version also has the wheelcaps as pictured.

This is obviously a big case. If you pack relatively normal belongings in it, it is almost too big for the 50-70lbs weight limits. That means if you pack it really full, it will weigh more than those maximum 32kg. So keep that in mind. On the other hand, if you want to transport bulky or fragile items like porcelain or wine bottles this is ideal. There is also a rubber seal around the opening that makes this fairly waterproof. Probably even the worst rain shower could not get the content wet.

The inside is simple. No frills but form follows function. The stretch pouches are removable, as is the divider panel. The panel is intelligent because it has two zippered compartment that are of different sizes. So you can use one for shirts and one for magazines or so. However, it is important to remember which side the panel is attached to. It is attached to the upper side of the case, the one that you will flip open when you open the suitcase. If you get that wrong some of your things might fall down. The lower side that should be laying flat on the ground when you open it, is easy to remember, because that's where the handle and the telescoping handles are.

Both halves are of the same depth. Some like that and others prefer a suitcase that is like a box with a cover that you close. A compromise is the solution where one half is for example 3 inches deep and the other 5. Those cases are very rare, however. I believe Samsonite might have some models like that. The Sammies also come with two divider panels so you don't need to remember which side goes up.

The solid feeling of the latches exudes quality. It's something like the Mercedes car door effect or the shutter sound of a Rolleiflex 6x6 camera. Very satisfying.

What is best about it, is how easily it rolls on even surfaces (hard or carpet). Even if loaded with 40 kg, I can maneuver this brick with two fingers literally; no kidding. It glides. In addition, if my research is correct, this case has the best volume to weight ratio in four wheel hard-sided luggage on the market.

Now the cons:

It scuffs and scratches easily. It also dents rather easily. This does not influence the functionality but it clearly takes away from the good looks. By the way, it looks terrific and it looks terribly expensive, which it is. You know what that means. The locks are easy to open by the TSA. But they do not have a Search Alert function where you can immediately tell that it was opened. I have had it happen that the suitcase was opened and no TSA tag was put inside. There was nothing missing but still... There is no real way to seal the case. I think I will try to hunt down some sealing tape or get a different pack strap. Pac-safe has one with a Search Alert TSA lock. At this price one could expect the Search Alert feature but probably they engineered it when that feature wasn't available yet.

Durability: The battle scars of travel will maybe even start to look good after some time, the dents might not. Rimowa will do a dent repair but I do not know the conditions, price etc. The warranty of 5 years only is ridiculous for a product of this price class, material and reputation. This is the main reason I subtracted one star. That said, my father has had one of these for a good 25 years and still uses it. When you open up the two halves there is some warp. The hinges seem to be the weakest point. Obviously, when you travel, the hinges are closed, not exposed and there is no warp.
On my third transatlantic flight one of the wheelcaps came off. This is purely cosmetic but shouldn't really happen, I find.

The 32 inch version is so high that one does not really need the telescoping handles. They could have saved two pounds and made just the more even space for packing on the interior.

The wheels look sturdy but I wouldn't use this on cobblestone really.

In conclusion this is really a bit of an extreme suitcase and certainly not for everybody. I got it because I do transport fragile things from time to time and because I really like the volume to weight ration.

I also made a strange experience with this suitcase and wonder if anybody knows something about it. In Zurich, where the personnel follows orders to the letter, I asked the check-in agent whether she'd please put a Fragile sticker on this suitcase because I was transporting crystal glasses. She said, that they didn't put Fragile stickers on this type of suitcase. I asked why. Her answer was a mix of "They scratch so easily and then people complain and they are so darn expensive and we don't want to pay for that. People hold us responsible for it. They will say that's why they had the Fragile sticker put on and you scratched it anyway." and "The Fragile stickers are really there to go easy on the content and not the exterior of a pretty case. These cases protect the content so well that no matter how we handle them, the contents will be safe."

My glasses arrived intact. However, it seems kind of counterproductive if you get a protective case but you cannot get a Fragile sticker as an additional insurance that the case doesn't get thrown around. I didn't ask but I wonder whether they would refuse putting a sticker also on a plastic Pelican case which is even sturdier but where the owner won't ..... when it gets scuffed.

Anybody got an insight on the official Fragile sticker policy? This was a ZRH-EWR flight on Continental.